Applicant Survey - 2001

This survey of applicants who were registered for the 2001 APPIC Match was conducted via the internet between February 26 and March 18, 2001. Subscribers to the e-mail list MATCH-NEWS were notified that a survey was available at a specific internet address.

Results of the survey are presented below. A total of 1,425 internship applicants completed the survey. Please keep in mind that this is not a scientific sampling, as not all applicants were subscribed to MATCH-NEWS and thus some did not receive notification that a survey was available. In addition, a small number of respondents were unable to complete the survey because they were not using a recent version of a web browser.

Some of the more interesting findings from this survey include:

1. Applicants were strongly supportive of the new ROLIC (Rank Order List Input and Confirmation) system and of submitting rankings via the internet (see questions 6a - 6d).

2. Applicants felt that the new Friday/Monday notification process was less stressful and strongly endorsed that it be continued in future years. This result is particularly interesting given that applicants also felt that the new process was clearly better for unmatched applicants but was not necessarily better for matched applicants (see questions 9a-e).

4. When asked about the timing of the entire internship selection process, applicants preferred by a 3-to-1 margin to keep the process as it is (Match Day in late February) rather than moving it later in the year (Match Day in late March or April) (see question 12).

5. Applicants have mixed opinions about whether or not APPIC should adopt a uniform application deadline date (Yes = 47%, No = 40%; see question 13a).

Missing data and "Not Applicable" responses were eliminated, and percentages do not necessarily total 100% due to rounding. Survey questions 7 and 17-20 requested open-ended comments and thus the results are not included below.

1. Type of Doctoral Program

Clinical 1044 73 % Counseling 253 18 % School 57 4 % Other 69 5 %

2. Degree Sought

Ph.D. 966 68 % Psy.D. 428 30 % Ed.D. 8 1 % Other 19 1 %

3. Is your doctoral program APA- or CPA-accredited?

Yes 1315 93 % No 104 7 %

4. Were you matched to an internship program by the APPIC Match? (i.e., did your official notification from National Matching Services indicate that you were successfully matched to an internship program?)

Yes 1257 88% No 157 11% Withdrew / No rankings submitted 8 1%

INTERPRETATION NOTE: It appears that unmatched applicants were underrepresented in this survey (2001 APPIC Match statistics indicated that 18% of participating applicants were not matched).

5a. The materials and instructions provided by National Matching Services (NMS) were clear and comprehensive.

As you may know, this year APPIC implemented a new early notification plan to distribute results to applicants: first, providing information about whether or not they matched (on Friday, February 23), followed by informing them of the specific site to which they were matched (on Monday, February 26). The purpose of this new Friday/Monday notification process was to provide a 3-day window so that unmatched applicants would have time to prepare for the opening of the Clearinghouse.

When answering the questions below, please keep in mind last year s results notification process: (a) no results information of any kind was released on Friday, (b) applicants learned on Monday morning whether or not they were matched as well as the specific site to which they were matched, and (c) unmatched applicants had to begin negotiating the Clearinghouse beginning two hours later on that same day.

9a. Overall, the new Friday/Monday notification process was LESS stressful than if I had received all of my results on Monday only.

This year, APPIC instituted an Informal Problem Resolution process that provided applicants and sites with the ability to consult with an APPIC Board Member regarding problems and difficulties that arose during the selection process.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Please respond to the following items ONLY if you had contact with Dr. Nadine Kaslow to discuss a question, concern, or problem (otherwise, please skip these items):

11. Please answer the following question regardless of whether or not you used the APPIC Informal Problem Resolution process:

Should APPIC continue to have an Informal Problem Resolution process in addition to its existing formal complaint process (via the APPIC Standards and Review Committee)?

Yes 1363 99 % No 8 1 %

12. APPIC has been asked to consider moving the internship selection process one to two months later in the academic year. Implementing such a change would involve moving the entire selection process, including application deadlines, interview dates, the rank order list deadline, and Match Day.

What is your opinion about the timing of the internship selection process? (check one)

Should not be moved (Match Day in late February) 857 60% Move one month later (Match Day in late March) 154 11% Move two months later (Match Day in late April) 144 10% No opinion 198 14% Other 161 11%

13a. Should APPIC adopt a uniform APPLICATION DEADLINE DATE (i.e., all internship sites would have a single date by which all written applications are due)?

Yes 675 47 % No 566 40 % Unsure 180 13 %

13b. Should APPIC adopt a uniform INTERVIEW NOTIFICATION DATE (i.e., a single date by which all internship sites would be required to notify an applicant if he/she will be interviewed)

If APPIC created a new e-mail discussion list for current interns (to discuss issues and concerns that arise during the course of the internship), how likely would it be for you to subscribe to such a list during your internship year?